diff --git a/src/services/tests/tests.service.ts b/src/services/tests/tests.service.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e2bca90
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/services/tests/tests.service.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+import { eq } from 'drizzle-orm';
+import type { NodePgDatabase } from 'drizzle-orm/node-postgres';
+import type * as schema from '../../db/schema/index.js';
+import { tests, testQuestions } from '../../db/schema/index.js';
+import { AppError, ERROR_CODES } from '../../utils/errors.js';
+import type { Stack, Level, TestMode } from '../../db/schema/enums.js';
+import type { QuestionService } from '../questions/question.service.js';
+
+type Db = NodePgDatabase<typeof schema>;
+
+export type CreateTestInput = {
+  stack: Stack;
+  level: Level;
+  questionCount: number;
+  mode?: TestMode;
+};
+
+export type TestSnapshot = {
+  id: string;
+  testId: string;
+  questionBankId: string | null;
+  orderNumber: number;
+  type: string;
+  questionText: string;
+  options: Array<{ key: string; text: string }> | null;
+  correctAnswer: string | string[];
+  explanation: string;
+  userAnswer?: string | string[] | null;
+  isCorrect?: boolean | null;
+  answeredAt?: string | null;
+};
+
+export type TestWithQuestions = {
+  id: string;
+  userId: string;
+  stack: string;
+  level: string;
+  questionCount: number;
+  mode: string;
+  status: string;
+  score: number | null;
+  startedAt: string;
+  finishedAt: string | null;
+  timeLimitSeconds: number | null;
+  questions: TestSnapshot[];
+};
+
+export class TestsService {
+  constructor(
+    private readonly db: Db,
+    private readonly questionService: QuestionService
+  ) {}
+
+  /**
+   * Create a new test: fetch questions, create test record, snapshot questions into test_questions.
+   */
+  async createTest(userId: string, input: CreateTestInput): Promise<TestWithQuestions> {
+    const { stack, level, questionCount, mode = 'fixed' } = input;
+
+    if (questionCount < 1 || questionCount > 50) {
+      throw new AppError(
+        ERROR_CODES.BAD_REQUEST,
+        'questionCount must be between 1 and 50',
+        400
+      );
+    }
+
+    const questions = await this.questionService.getQuestionsForTest(
+      userId,
+      stack,
+      level,
+      questionCount
+    );
+
+    const [test] = await this.db
+      .insert(tests)
+      .values({
+        userId,
+        stack,
+        level,
+        questionCount,
+        mode,
+        status: 'in_progress',
+      })
+      .returning();
+
+    if (!test) {
+      throw new AppError(
+        ERROR_CODES.INTERNAL_ERROR,
+        'Failed to create test',
+        500
+      );
+    }
+
+    const tqValues = questions.map((q, i) => ({
+      testId: test.id,
+      questionBankId: q.questionBankId,
+      orderNumber: i + 1,
+      type: q.type,
+      questionText: q.questionText,
+      options: q.options,
+      correctAnswer: q.correctAnswer,
+      explanation: q.explanation,
+    }));
+
+    await this.db.insert(testQuestions).values(tqValues);
+
+    const questionsRows = await this.db
+      .select()
+      .from(testQuestions)
+      .where(eq(testQuestions.testId, test.id))
+      .orderBy(testQuestions.orderNumber);
+
+    return this.toTestWithQuestions(test, questionsRows);
+  }
+
+  private toTestWithQuestions(
+    test: (typeof tests.$inferSelect),
+    questionsRows: (typeof testQuestions.$inferSelect)[]
+  ): TestWithQuestions {
+    return {
+      id: test.id,
+      userId: test.userId,
+      stack: test.stack,
+      level: test.level,
+      questionCount: test.questionCount,
+      mode: test.mode,
+      status: test.status,
+      score: test.score,
+      startedAt: test.startedAt.toISOString(),
+      finishedAt: test.finishedAt?.toISOString() ?? null,
+      timeLimitSeconds: test.timeLimitSeconds,
+      questions: questionsRows.map((q) => ({
+        id: q.id,
+        testId: q.testId,
+        questionBankId: q.questionBankId,
+        orderNumber: q.orderNumber,
+        type: q.type,
+        questionText: q.questionText,
+        options: q.options,
+        correctAnswer: q.correctAnswer,
+        explanation: q.explanation,
+        userAnswer: q.userAnswer,
+        isCorrect: q.isCorrect,
+        answeredAt: q.answeredAt?.toISOString() ?? null,
+      })),
+    };
+  }
+}